Using Western’s Recovery Act Borrowing Authority
Western is using borrowing authority under the Recovery Act to help build the $213 million Montana-Alberta Tie Limited transmission project between Great Falls, Mont., and Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The project meets the criteria established for Western’s Transmission Infrastructure Program and is the first to use our new borrowing authority. Read Secretary Chu's announcement of the MATL project.
Workshop looks at transmission issues affecting solar development in West
Today, there are more opportunities than ever to build large-scale solar projects in the West. Utilities, developers and governments that want renewable energy to be a part of the region’s economic recovery are invited to attend Opening Transmission Constraints for Solar Development Locally and in the West on June 17, from 1 to 5 p.m. Find out more or sign up on our Energy Services Breaking News page.
The MATL project will be funded through a public-private partnership between Western and Tonbridge Power Inc. with up to $161 million of the total project costs funded through Western’s Recovery Act borrowing authority. Find out more about Western's work on MATL.
Statements of Interest
Through the Request for Interest process, the public is invited to make Western aware of potential transmission projects by submitting Statements of Interest. Parties wishing to submit a Statement of Interest should download the entire Request for Interest and Credit Application. To be assured consideration, all SOIs should be submitted in a non-confidential manner. Submit questions to the TIP Office. Submit completed SOIs and supporting documentation to txrfi@wapa.gov.
Transmission Infrastructure Program announced
The May 14, 2009, publication of our new Transmission Infrastructure Program in the Federal Register, gives Western a solid foundation to build partnerships that will make concrete the vision established in Section 402 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
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Western Administrator Tim Meeks and Johan van't Hof, president and CEO of MATL, sign documents in October to close the financing on the MATL project. |
This milestone marked the end of the public process that helped us define the policies and practices to follow in exercising our new borrowing authority granted under Section 402.
“With the ground rules in place, the stage is set for initial project selections,” said Western’s Administrator Tim Meeks. “We remain committed to taking steps that will create new jobs and get lines in the air to help deliver renewable energy to market.”
Timeline
Since receiving authority from Congress in February 2009, the TIP was created in two and a half months, had project applications to consider within three months, was fully staffed within six months and announced the first project in September. “That’s really amazingly fast,” said TIP Manager Craig Knoell. “It’s a true testament to Western to get the office up and running so quickly. Especially since we weren’t like other agencies, which already had programs in place and ready to act on Congress’ wishes.”
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Western is now offering an RSS feed for information specifically related to the Transmission Infrastructure Program and the Recovery Act. Subscribe to ensure you get the latest information about TIP!
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